Ketosis- is a very significant disease in transition cows and is rather a gateway for many other diseases that is why early detection, treatment as well as prevention are very important. There should be herd monitoring strategies in place to implement this plan. There are tools available which should be made use of which shall be discussed in detail later in this write up.
A Hidden Disease Ketosis goes highly undetected that makes it a very dangerous disease. I wrote a small write up on Ketosis on my facebook group a couple of years back and I had a comment from one renowned Indian dairy Scientist," Is this disease even prevalent in India?" That was a shocker!! What can you expect from farmers and inexperienced Para Vets and young Vets. One detected case of Clinical Ketosis is a tip of Iceberg of undiagnosed sub clinical cases.
Some tech details about Ketosis:
- Ketosis is a metabolic disorder that occurs in dairy cattle when energy demands (e.g. high milk production) exceed energy intake and result in a negative energy balance. Ketosis is essentially a transition phase disease and if animals can be manged well in this phase, the outcomes can be better.
- For milk production large amounts of body fat are mobilized as an energy source faster by a cow than her liver can properly metabolize it. If this situation occurs, ketone production exceeds ketone utilization by the cow, and ketosis happens.
- Ketone bodies are produced from the incomplete utilization of fat as an energy source. Acetoacetic acid, acetone, and beta–hydroxybutyric acid are the ketone bodies produced in the cow during this process.
- Ketone precursors may also exist in high levels in legume and grass silages containing high levels of butyric acid. They can increase the risk of ketosis by increasing the supply of ketone precursors to cattle.
Why is Ketosis so Hot:
- Ketotic cows are at upto 8x risk for displaced abomasum(DA).
- Upto 2x risk of Retained Fetal membranes.
- Upto 3x risk of Metritis.
- Upto 2x culling.
- Upto 6X cystic Ovaries.
- Lower reproductive performances
- Lower immune function overall!
- Upto 350 Litres/770 pounds less milk in lactation.
Monitoring for Ketosis: For indvidual cows, keep an eye on:
- Higher BCS,
- Rapid BCS reduction in late and close up Dry period.
- Longer dry periods
- Twin pregnancies
- Milk fat Milk protein ratios of more than 1.5 in previous lactation
- Late freshened heifers
Herd level, monitor all Transition cows for BHBAs and Ketone bodies, some of your options are:
- Lab BHBA monitoring
- Cow side BHBA ketometer test- good effective and cost effective strategy
- Milk Ketone tests- Cow side
- Urine Ketones- Is not very reliable with many false postive but all positives can be further evaluated with above methods.
Whatever difficulties are there to monitor but if this can be made a part of fresh and transition cow program, there are going to be guaranteed gains and lower losses. Shall be discussing the prevention and supportive treatment options in follow up write up.
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